Centrifuge heating attachment



Sept. 3 1958 G. J. GARRETT 2,854,189

CENTRIFUGE HEATING ATTACHMENT Filed May 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aura Cbouiva Jrszzm \Cj/ ATTORNEYS l 1958 G. J. GARRETT 2,854,189

CENTRIFUGE HEATING ATTACHMENT Filed May 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5.

'INVENTOR 0. J. anknsrr ATTORNEYS United States Patent CENTRIFUGE HEATING ATTACHMENT 9 Gilbert J. Garrett, Pampa', Tex.

Application May 25, 1956, Serial No. 587,373

3 Claims. ('Cl. 233-11) The present invention relates to heating attachments for centrifuges, and more particularly to centrifuges used for the testing of inflammable petroleum products.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a.

heating attachment for centrifuges permitting the centrifuge to be heatedwithout danger of fire or explosion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating attachment for centrifuges requiring no modification of the centrifuge bowl being attached by replacing the normal cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat the following specification when considered 111 the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention illustrating, in broken lines, the attachment thereof to the heating system of a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the centrifuge attachment shown removed from the bowl.

.Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section of the complete device, taken generally along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic top plan illustrating the movement of air from the center outwardly.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the vertical and radial air currents.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a centrifuge of the type having a base 11, bowl 12, drive 13 mounted on the base 11 and positioned Within the bowl 12, a drive shaft 14 extending upwardly from the drive 13, and a container carrier 15 locked on the shaft 14 by means of a nut 16.

The container carrier 15 at its opposite ends has pivotally mounted therein a sample container 17. Samples of petroleum products are adapted to be placed in the container 17 and centrifugally separated upon rotation of the shaft 14. The position of the container 17 in Figure 3 is that assumed by the containers upon rotation of the shaft 14.

In the separation of petroleum products, a temperature of approximately 125 F. is necessary to keep the paraflin content thereof in a liquid state. Petroleum products when heated to a temperature of 125 F. emit gases which are highly explosive and inflammable. State testing regulations in most instances prohibit the use of open flame or electrical heating devices for use in centrifuges due to the dangers associated therewith.

In my prior Patent No. 2,778,566, issued January 22,

2,854,189 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 1957, and entitled Centrifuge Heating Device, I have disclosed an apparatus for heating a centrifuge in which the heating medium is water circulated from the cooling system of a motor vehicle upon which the portable centrifuge is mounted.

In this application, the centrifuge is heated in a broadly similar manner with the attachment comprising a lid 18 having an upper wall 19 and a vertically spaced parallel lower wall 20 joined together along their outer peripheral edges by a side wall 21. An annular flange 22 depends from the side wall 21 below the lower wall 20, as best illustrated in Figure 3, and is adapted to engage over the upper edge 23 of the bowl 12 and rest on a bead 24 formed on the bowl 12 parallel to and spaced below the upper edge portion 23 thereof.

The upper wall 19 and the lower wall 20 are provided with spaced connecting pillars 25 which are adapted to maintain the walls 19 and 20- in their spaced parallel relation. The upper wall 19 is provided with an axially aligned central opening 26, while the lower wall 20 is provided with an axially aligned central opening 27 having a diameter slightly smaller than the central opening 26.

A pair of generally circular radiation conduits 28 and 29 are positionedconcentrically against the underside of the lower wall 20' outwardly of the central opening 27 therein. Attachment clips 30 engage over the conduits 28 and '29 and are secured thereto by'means of bolts 31.

The opposite ends of the conduit 29 are provided with opposed elbows 32 and 33 which extend radially outwardly therefrom. The opposite ends of the conduit 28 are provided with oppositely disposed Ts 34 and 35 which are connected to the elbows 32 and 33, respectively, and have projecting therefrom elbows 36 and 37, respectively. The elbows 36 and 37 are provided at their outer ends with hose carrying portions 38 and 39, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3.

A pair of upstanding spaced apart parallel ears 40 and 41 are carried by the upper Wall 19 of the lid 18 adjacent the edge of the opening 26.

A cover generally indicated at 42 is provided with a circular upper plate 43 having an outwardly projecting annular flange 44 formed on its peripheral edge and adapted to engage the upper wall 19 adjacent the opening 26. The cover 42 has hinge members 45 and 46 secured thereto and pivotally engaged to the ears 40 and 41, respectively, by means of pivot bolts 47 and 48. The cover 42 has a circular lower wall 49 positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to the upper wall 43 and is provided with an outwardly projecting annular flange 50 adapted to engage against the upper face of the lower wall 20 surrounding the opening 27.

A plurality of pillars 51 integrally connect the upper wall 43 and the lower wall 49 of the cover 42 to maintain the walls 43 and 49 in spaced parallel relation. A knob 52 is secured to the cover 42 by means of a bolt 53 extending therethrough. The lower wall 49 is provided with a central axial opening 54 communicating the space between the walls 43 and 49 with the interior of the bowl 12.

The lower wall 20 of the lid 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 55 positioned between the conduits 28 and 29 and communicating the space between the upper wall 19 and the lower wall 20 with the interior of the bowl 12. The cover 42 has its upper wall 43 and its lower wall 49 so arranged with relation to the upper wall 19 and the lower wall 20 of the lid 18 that the space between the respective walls are in communication.

In the use and operation of the invention, the connections 38 and 39 have secured thereto hoses extending from the cooling system of a motor vehicle, generally indicated at C, to provide a circulation of warm water through the conduits 28 and 29 within the centrifuge 10. Samples to be tested are placed in the container 17 and the shaft 14 and carrier 15 are caused to rotate at a relatively high speed. The rotation of the container 17 about the shaft 14 creates a flow of air radially outwardly along the container 17.

A portion of the air flowing outwardly along the container 17 flows upwardly through the apertures 55 into the space between the upper and lower walls 19 and 20 and radially inwardly into the space between the upper and lower Walls 43 and 49 passing through the axial opening 54 in the lower Wall 49 and downwardly to a position centrally of the container 17 from whence it flows outwardly over the container 17 in a repetition of the cycle. As the air flows upwardly toward the apertures 55 it is warmed by passing over and around and between the conduits 28 and 29 thus warming the material in the container 17.

Figure 4 illustrates the air fiow moving outwardly from the opening 54- to the apertures 55. Figure 5 illustrates the vertical air flow pattern where the air is moved radially outwardly and upwardly then radially inwardly by action of the rotating container 17, as described above.

Obviously, the cover 42 can be opened to permit the container i? to be changed, inspected, and replaced as needed.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous struc tural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a closed chamber centrifuge having air therein and having a pair of oppositely disposed receptacles mounted on a rotatable vertically disposed central supporting post for horizontal rotation on a pair of horizontal oppositely extending supporting arms, a means for heating and circulating the air about said receptacles, said means comprising in combination said receptacles and supporting arms, a lid, a pair of conduits for a circulating heating medium secured to the underside of said lid, a plurality of openings in said lid between said conduits, and means associated with said lid forming a return conduit leading from said openings to the central area of said chamber, whereby when said arms and said receptacles are rotated, the air in said chamber will be forced through said openings, heated by said pair of conduits and returned to said chamber for recirculation through said return conduit means, said lid and said return conduit means comprise spaced upper and lower walls with said openings extending through said lower wall communicating the space between said walls with said chamber, and said lower wall having an axial opening communicating the space therebetween with said chamber.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hinged cover is provided for said upper and lower walls providing access to said chamber.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cover comprises spaced upper and lower walls aligned with the spaced upper and lower walls of said lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

